Brake mechanism



Patented May 1, 1945 r :oFF cE Paul W. Gaenssle, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Budd Wheel Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a cor p oration of Pennsylvania Application October 2, 1943, Serial 504,685

4 Claims.

The invention relates to a brake mechanism and more particularly to such a mechanism in which the non-rotary brake member or members and the actuating means, therefor are mounted on a support including a casing housing in large part, the actuating means.

Ordinarily, the essential parts of such actuating means comprise-a brake actuating lever for cooperation, on the one hand, with the brake member or shoe and on the other hand, with a cylinder actuator within the casing.

It is a main object of the invention to provide a construction which facilitates the manufacture of the brake actuating lever 'and the casing in which it is mounted, and which also facilitates the assembly and disassembly of these parts with each other and at the same time provides a sturdy and efficient mountin for the lever and 'an eificient arrangement for sealing the casing against the entrance of dirt and water.

Other and further objects and advantages and the manner in which they are attained will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

In the drawing, the invention has been shown applied to a rail car truck brake mechanism 'generally similar to that disclosed in co-pending application, Serial No. 399,779 filed June 26, 1941, for Brake mechanism, but it will be understood that the main features of the invention are equally applicableto other types of brakes and usable in other relations.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary part-sectional and partplan view of the brake mechanism of the invention as applied to a rail car truck, the section being indicated by the line l -I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, the section being taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment shown, a wheel to be braked is indicated at In, and to it is bolted the rotary brake ring indicated at H. The brake support l2 may be the usual U or C-shaped-support suspended by a three point suspension, two points of suspension being adjacent the opposite" ends of the axle carrying the wheel l and a'third point being on the transom of the truck.

The brake support is for the most part of hollow construction embodying in the region adjacent the brake ring H a sealedcasing l3 widened in fore and aft direction and carrying within it adjacent the wall thereof remote from the ring II a brake cylinder l4 carrying opposed skirted pistons l5, l5. Each of these pistons has cooperating abutting relation with one of a pair of actuatin levers l6, l6 pivoted near the wall of the casing l4 adjacent to the brake ring I l at points I1, I! respectively, these levers pivotally.

carrying brake shoe l8, l8 respectively arranged. at opposite side of the brake disc ll, forbraking cooperation therewith, when fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder inthe space between the pistons. Springs, as l9 return the actuating levers.- shoes and piston to their inoperative positions, shown in Fig. 1.

"The construction so far described corresponds to the construction disclosed in the prior application above referred to. The specific construction of the actuating levers and their mounting in the casingform th mainfeatures of thi invention and Will now be described in detail. Each lever is similarly constructed and mounted, and a description, of one will therefore be sufficient for a full understanding of the invention. I

-For convenience of manufacture and assembly the casing 13 is divided along a generally horizontal plane into an upper main body portion l 3a and a lowerv cover portion l3b. These parts are securely bolted together at numerous spaced points in their peripheral inter-seating portions as by bolts 20, The joint is preferably sealed by agasketfl. I i Aligned bearings 22 and 22' in the opposed upper and lower wall of the casing l3 pivotal1y mount the actuating lever I 6. The upp r bearing 22 is an elongated bearing of generous diameter and is provided in the main body l3a of the casing, while the lower bearing i of reduced di'-' ameter and is tion I3b. Y Each lever It, for convenience of manufacture and assembly, preferably is made of three separate parts. Each comprises a pivotportion 23 having spaced parts fitting the bearings in the casing and an integral lateral arm 24 extending therefrom intermediately of the bearings and inside the casing. The length of the arm 24 is such as to permit the insertion of the'pivot portion '23 from the bottom, when the'cover l3b is not-in place. 1 i

The pivot portion 23 also has an extension beyond the bearing 22 projecting outside the cas-' ing I3, and non-rotatably secured to this extension is a second part of the lever, an arm designated generally by 26. This arm has a hub porpivotally support, at 29 the associated brake shoe I 8 and the part- 262) bein adapted to be connected to a manually-operated brake actuating mechanism Where manual actuation iszprovided, inaddition to the cylinder actuation. Where manual-actuation is not required, the part 26b could be omitted.

formed in' the removable cover pori 1 in bearing 23 being designated 35.

follows:

A third part of the actuating lever It comprises the arm 30 having a hub portion adapted to slidably receive the pivotal portion 23 and having abutting relaztiomwlith one side (of the arm 24 extending therefrom. The arm 30 is securely locked to rotate with the pivot portion 23 by :a 1 stud and nut 3!, the stud having an enlarged 3 part fitting a corresponding openingin arm "M l and a smaller part screwedyinto thearm 311. The nut cooperating with the stud is looked as Joya lock washer. Arm 30 extends through a widened slot 32 in the wall of cylinder I4 and also through a corresponding slot 33 in the skirt of the associated piston I5, its free end abutting the central Q portion of the piston for actuation thereby. I To take the radial and thrrwt "loads on the 1 bearings, each bearing is preferably providedwith a flanged hardened lining sleeve, the sleeve in bearing 22 being designated 3fland the sleeve Between the hub of the arm 33 and the flange of the bearing on the casing and spaced from the ,pivot portion 23. A downwardly facing cup-shaped washer All 1 having its per'ipheralportion overhanging the projection 3.9 and its central portion clamped between a shoulder on pivot portion 23 and the hub 2.1 of .arm 25, is further protection against entrance of dirt and water.

I'or convenience .of manufacture, :the bearing opening in the cover member |3b ts ldmilled through hand is sealed at the outside byra closing plate All pressed into an enlarged outer end of the opening against :a shoulder ionmed thereby.

.Erom the ,ioregoimg description it will be seen 1 that a very practiced structure been devised 1 in which the parts, when assembled provide a 1 sturdy and refficient construction, and .in which the parts are so related as to facilitate their 1 manufacture and assembly, and, omen assembled, 1 they provide an adenuately sealed casing for j housing the greater pant not the operating mechanism.

The assembly of the parts may proceed :as

itihe (cover 1319 :heing We, the lever arm 30 is through the lower opening in the pressed by a suitable itool. When the arm is in place, thestming is allowed to expand into ena gagement with it, as shown. 'The bearing wash.

ers :36 'land the hub of the arm 30 are then located in a'ligznmen't with the bearing 22 and the pivot 23 is passed upwardly through these portions until thearm 24 engages j casing and its end passed through the aligned 1 slots 32 and 33 in the cylinder and piston, re-

; spectively, until it rests :in cooperative relation with the center of 'the piston. During this oporation, ithe "return spring 19 may be held comthe arm 30. The packing 38, cup 41] and arm 2.6

may then be successively assembled on the upper g end of the pivot portion =23, and the nut and stud j 31 tightened t'o lock the arms 2! and 30 together.. 3 Flinally, thecover portion 18b is brought in place, wrth the hearing "23 thereon slipped over the lower reduced .ends of :the :pivot portion 23 and locked in sealed relation with the main body of the casing |3a by the bolts 20 and sealing gasket 2 I. Similarly, but in reverse order, the disassembly maybe efiec'ted with equal ease.v I

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been herein described, it will be understood that the main features thereof may be embodied in other forms which readily fall within the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and in the iollowi-ng claims it :is intended to cover such other embodiments.

What is claimed'is:

1. 111 abraZ-ke mechanism, a support including a casing comprising two separable parts divided along a generally horizontal plane, one part having a fixed bearing in a wa l] thereof, "the o'ther part carrying an opposed spaced bearing'remov able with it, and an -actuati-ng lever pivoted in said hearings, *said lever comprising at 'least two pants, one part including a pivot portion engaging said spaced bearings and an arm extending therefrom outside the casing, the other part comprising an arm extending into the casing and having a hub portion slidably fitting the pivot portion extending between said bearings and con nected to rotate-with thepivot'portion by a torque arm on the "pivot portion secured tosaid arm having the hub portion. r

2. In a brake mechanism, a support for a brake shoe including a casing comprising two separable parts divided along a generally horizontal plane, one part having a fixed bearing in one wall thereof, the other part carrying an opposed spaced bearing removable'wi'th said part, anactuating lever pivoted in said bearings, sa'id actuating lever comprising a pivot portion engaging said :bearings and having one end thereof ,pro-

jecting beyond the adjacent hearing outside the.

casing and an arm non-rotatably secured to .said pivot portion and extending into the casing for engagement with .an actuator therein and an arm disposed outside the .casing for engagement with an associated shoe and having a hub ,por

tion ,non rotatably but .removably, secured xto said bearings and having .a laterally extending arm thereon intermediate said bearings, an arm extending .on the .outsid'e of the casing :and nonnotatablysecured to said pivot portion, andanother arm extending into the casing and sleeved onto the intermediate portion :of :said pivot portion and secured to the laterally extending arm thereof. A

A. In a brake mechanism, a support for a brake shoe including a casing having spaced hearings in two opposed walls thereof, a brake actuating lever mounted in said hearings through a pivot portion thereof, said lever having an arm non rotatably secured to said pivot-portion and extending into (the casing for co-action with an actuator therein, and .a second arm secured to the pivot portion externally of the casing and having par-ts extending in different direction firom asa'id pivot portion, one part for operative engagement with an associated brake shoe and the other, for engagement with a manuallyoperated means.

PAUL W. GAENSSLE. 

